Several other uncapped players are also involved: Fulham goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli, Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy and Watford midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah making up the sextet of debutantes.

"We've got a few injuries in the midfield in particular - Dele [Alli], Jesse [Lingard] and Ruben [Loftus-Cheek] have been missing - and Fabian Delph, so there is an opportunity there".

Injuries have led Southgate to make changes to World Cup semi-finalists England's squad. "Then we have a decision on which way we want to use that opportunity".

The star of England's Under-17 World Cup triumph last year, the 18-year-old has made just two starts in all competitions for the Premier League champions.

Jadon Sancho, Mason Mount and James Maddison have been handed their first senior England call-ups as Gareth Southgate doubled down on his focus on youth in arguably his boldest squad selection to date.

"This is a great opportunity for us to look at them".

He joined the German side from Manchester City for about £10m in August 2017 and signed a new deal earlier this week.

Injury blow for Leeds United as Barry Douglas ruled out of Brentford clash

"Jadon's is an unusual story for a young English player".

Sancho, a gifted wide midfielder who is 17, joined Dortmund from Manchester City a year ago and has broken through this season, scoring one goal and providing seven assists in nine games mostly off the bench. "He's been courageous enough to go overseas and play", added Southgate. He has been courageous enough to go and play overseas and has started two Champions League games for Dortmund and has also had a big impact from the bench in their league games.

"Well, he's had a long period injured at Chelsea previous year, so that wasn't a reflection on the quality of the player that he hadn't been with us, but he wasn't getting any football, really", Southgate said.

Mason's situation is slightly different. This year in the Championship he's created more chances than any other player in the league. We're always conscious of the balance in bringing young players in but we think they are performing well with their clubs and they are confident players.

A total of three Liverpool players have been picked - Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez and Jordan Henderson - while Tottenham have a total of five players in the squad; Danny Rose, Kieran Trippier, Eric Dier, Harry Winks and Harry Kane. Alex McCarthy (3 December 1989) is the oldest player at 28.